Middlesex wins defensive battle in Snapple Bowl

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above, Monroe's Jared Jimenez finds some rare running room during last Thursday's Snapple Bowl at South Brunswick High School. At left, Old Bridge quarterback Greg Frischman calls the play from the shotgun position, while below, Middlesex's defensive MVP Herbert Nieves, of Sayreville, wraps up Rahway's Darion Caldwell. It wasn't looking good for the Middlesex County squad during the waning moments of last Thursday night's Snapple Bowl XIII in South Brunswick.

With the score tied at 7-7, their opponents from Union County had the ball with just over three minutes to play in the fourth quarter, and appeared poised to mount a drive to set up a game-winning field goal attempt.

But as it had for most of the game, the Middlesex defense stepped up and made the big play - this time a clutch interception by Carteret's Chris Lakatos on the Union 31-yard line.

Just like that, the roles had been reversed. Now it was Middlesex with all the momentum, and more importantly, the ball.

And with Colonia graduate Louis Pietrangelo at the helm, Middlesex swiftly marched down the field to score the game-winning touchdown - a 1-yard QB keeper by Pietrangelo - and win the game 13-7.

With the win, Middlesex won for the sixth time in 13 games played between the two counties' top graduated seniors.

While Pietrangelo's winning TD, along with a clutch 31-yard completion to Carteret receiver Mike Collier on third-and-11, which sustained the winning drive, were the offensive highlights, much of the game was dominated by the two defenses.

Middlesex came into the game looking to use its two talented running backs - Monroe's Jared Jimenez and North Brunswick's Aaron Jackson - to wear down the Union defense. However, the Middlesex running game never got on track, leaving Old Bridge quarterback Greg Frischman and Pietrangelo to take to the air more than they had anticipated.

Fortunately, the Middlesex defense was just as solid, allowing just one touchdown following an eight-play, 56-yard drive near the start of the second quarter.

Following that drive, the Middlesex defense, led by MVP Herbert Nieves, of Sayreville, (four tackles for a loss and two sacks), shut down the Union attack.

Middlesex managed to tie the game at 7-7 on its first possession of the second half, as Frischman found South Brunswick tight end James Jackson with a 10-yard TD pass, capping a 59-yard drive.

While the outcome of the game meant plenty to the local gridiron stars playing in their final scholastic football game, the true purpose of the game was to raise money for the Lakeview School in Edison and Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside.